ArtWorksTO: Indigenous Program The ArtWorksTO Indigenous program offers Indigenous youth media creatives (18-35) opportunities to gain professional experience, develop skills, and build networks in the media arts industry. About This is a fully Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) workforce development program that aims to create a customized, culturally rooted, and supportive environment for Indigenous artists, enhancing their representation and success within media arts. The program includes a $5,000 paid creative contract, OCAD U skills training, and workshops with Indigenous leaders in the media industries. This program was developed by Indigenous artists and facilitators and built around reciprocal relationships. Each participant brings their skills, lived experiences, and unique vision to projects, and in turn receives paid contracts and connections in their industries. Indigenous youth will be able to apply to the ArtWorksTO Youth program or the Indigenous-specific cohort, depending on their needs, interests, and preferences. Eligibility:Applicants will be required to know and explain their relation and connection to their Indigenous identity. This can include familial connections, nationhood, or experiences with displacement. For the purpose of this program, Indigenous in the context of First Peoples of Canada includes: First Nations are status and non-status individuals who are citizens, recognized members, or direct blood relatives of a self-governing band, a reserve-based community, or a larger tribal group. Inuit are recognized as the First Peoples of the Arctic regions of Canada including Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and parts of the Northwest Territories, whose relatives are also in Greenland and Alaska. Métis are culturally distinct from First Nations and Inuit and have a direct line of Métis ancestry to a known Métis settlement, community, or family group. Toronto Arts Foundation recognizes the effects that centuries of colonial practices have had on Indigenous communities. This includes residential schools, foster systems, adoption, day schools, etc. The selection committee will conduct in-person interviews so each applicant can tell the story of where they come from and who they are. We do not require applicants to divulge private information that causes harm. What will this program offer me? Credentialed education with OCAD U– Each participant will be paid to attend and complete the Introduction to Design Thinking Course A guaranteed, paid creative contract with a program partner organization Workshops with Indigenous entrepreneurs and media artists Support while working in colonial spaces One-on-one mentorship to provide guidance and leadership from experienced media artists who are working in their respective industries Program Timeline September Equinox – December SolsticeOutreach & Application Portal opens December Solstice – March EquinoxOCAD U Training & Guidance March Equinox – June SolsticeMentorship & Project PairingJune Solstice – September EquinoxProject completed with support from programSeptember Equinox – December SolsticeGraduation & Addition to the Alumni Program How do I apply to ArtWorksTO Youth Program? Eager to submit your online application? These are the next steps: Read the FAQ section of the ArtWorksTO website to learn more about eligibility and program offerings. Prepare your creative portfolio for submission by signing up to participate in ONE of the FREE Portfolio Development Workshops led by OCAD University. Sign-up to receive FREE one-on-one professional feedback about your creative portfolio! (Please email zyrelle@torontoarts.org for information about this service.) If you have any questions about these steps, please reach out to Program Lead Kennedy Salloum at kennedy@torontoarts.org. When is the application deadline? Application deadline: Please check back soon. Please make sure you follow us via our IG handle @artworks.TO to get the latest news. become a Project host: HOST. COLLABORATE. CREATE. Through ArtWorksTO, youth media artists who are Indigenous will be provided by our organization with a $5,000 paid contract, administered by our program, to complete a media arts project of your organization’s choosing. The projects will be completed from April 2026 to June 2026. ArtWorksTO participants are skilled in media arts disciplines including videography, graphic design, digital illustration, animation, digital photography, social media communications, and UX design. If you are interested in submitting a project for consideration and becoming a contract Host, please refer to the guidelines for more details about the program. Application Deadline: December 8th 2025 apply now If you require assistance with your project submission, or if you have questions such as: What are the roles and responsibilities of contract Hosts, ArtWorksTO participants and staff. The types of projects that can be completed through the program. What to include in your project submission. The project selection process & timelines. Please contact kennedy@torontoarts.org to help answer your questions. Meet some of our talented artworksto youth program alum! More About ArtWorksTO Program History Workforce Development for Young Creatives Canada has a burgeoning creative sector; in 2010 it represented three percent of Canada’s GDP and 3.7 percent of the national workforce (Canadian Arts Coalition, 2019). However, young people with creative skills face barriers and are under and unemployed in this sector. Young people have developed skills, talent, and interest in the creative industries through engagement in community-based arts programs and self-directed learning. ArtworksTO will equip youth industry networks, advance skills, provide access to education, and professional work experience opportunities to support access to meaningful employment in creative industries. 2015-2020 The City of Toronto, in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network, developed and implemented the ArtWorksTO Project between 2015 and 2020 as part the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy in 2014, Action 1D: “The City of Toronto will invest in youth artists and arts groups to develop youth sensitive and appropriate communication materials (posters, videos, songs, stories, etc.) that will promote key city programs that serve youth needs (at all levels of vulnerability) ….” 2019 External consultants reviewed and made recommendations for formalizing and expanding the ArtWorksTO program. A preliminary finding of the report conveyed that ArtWorksTO provides meaningful work experience for youth, connects clients to a difficult-to-access talent pool, connects youth to services, and gives youth a voice in contributing to or creating City communications materials (e.g. brochures, videos, flyers, etc.). 2020 Toronto Arts Foundation was awarded $1,035,470 in funding from Future Skills Centre to deliver the ArtWorksTO project over two years in partnership with the City of Toronto, the Remix Project, and the Ontario College of Art and Design University. The expanded ArtWorksTO model is a workforce development program designed to enhance access to employment and entrepreneurship in the media arts and creative industries for young artists who are Indigenous, Black and People of Colour (IBPOC) and/or 2SLGBTQ+. ArtWorksTO offers its participants: Alumni Pathways (in development) Employment and wellness support through The City’s Toronto Youth Partnerships and Employment (TYPE) program A $4,000 paid contract to complete a media arts project Industry advice and connections with media arts professionals, coordinated by The Remix Project Certificate in Art and Design Professional Skills from OCAD U School of Continuing Studies (only for Next Stream applicants, see FAQ) Additional professional development opportunities Project Partners Toronto Arts Foundation is a registered charity that sparks creative connections, spotlights artistic excellence, and supports vibrant cultural growth throughout our diverse city, through private sector investment. To learn more or to make a donation, visit torontoartsfoundation.org. TAF/NAN responsible for case management with participants and the overall coordination and administration of the project including contract management, outreach, communications, data collection, report writing and industry engagement. Neighbourhood Arts Network is a Toronto-wide network of more than 2,400 members, including artists, arts organizations, cultural workers, and community agencies offering accessible arts programming, awards, and partnership opportunities. TAF/NAN is responsible for the overall coordination and administration of the project including financial management, outreach, participant support, managing internships, communications, data collection, report writing, and industry engagement. City of Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents, and businesses. For more information visit toronto.ca City of Toronto supported project management, including: refining priorities, goals and deliverables; facilitation of continuous improvement through monitoring and evaluation; risk mitigation framework implementation, and establishing workplans and milestones and Financial contributions to the program. In-kind contributions, to provide employment-focused support through the Toronto Youth Partnerships & Employment Program (TYPE) OCAD University is Canada’s oldest and largest university for art and design. Founded in 1876, the university is dedicated to art, design and digital media education, practice and research, and knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines. ocadu.ca OCAD U offers and delivers customized skills education programming and provides advisory support on the program model and implementation. The Remix Project is a multidisciplinary arts training organization, devoted to strengthening the creative community by supporting the next generation of industry leaders. Focused on each student’s personal and professional development, the charity was created to help level the playing field for talented youth who face barriers in pursuing careers in arts & entertainment. For more information, www.theremixproject.com The Remix Project coordinates industry networking and professional development activities through “master classes” with industry professionals and one-on-one industry advisor, matches of ArtWorksTO participants and Remix alumni. Meet the Alumni 2024 Akeida AlexanderDisciplines: Public Relations, Communications, Social Media, Singer, Visual ArtistInstagram | LinkedIn Alissa de RiveraDisciplines: IllustrationPortfolio | LinkedIn Andrea Nirmala WidjajantoDisciplines: Videography, WritingInstagram | LinkedIn Ayat SalihDisciplines: Videography, Visual Art, WritingPortfolio | LinkedIn Darinka RamosDisciplines: Graphic DesignInstagram | LinkedIn Gladys LouDisciplines: VideographyInstagram | LinkedIn Isatu BarrieDisciplines: Photography, VideographyInstagram | LinkedIn Isabelle Leonardo-CruzDisciplines: VideographyInstagram | LinkedIn Jamera DacostaDisciplines: Illustration, Graphic DesignInstagram | LinkedIn Jerome Duah-KessieDisciplines: Illustration, Graphic DesignInstagram | LinkedIn Joy AdeyemiDisciplines: PhotographyInstagram Laira MacapagalDisciplines: UX Design, Website Design, 3D RenderingInstagram | LinkedIn Lavane KellyDisciplines: Graphic Design, Poetry, WritingInstagram | LinkedIn Leyah MirzaDisciplines: 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